The 72nd National Film Awards have created confusion among movie lovers because several films released in 2024 are receiving major honours in 2026. Films such as Article 370, Chandu Champion, Bramayugam and other 2024 releases have been recognised at the awards ceremony being held in September 2026.
At first glance, the two-year gap may appear unusual. However, there is a specific eligibility cycle behind the timing. The National Film Awards do not necessarily honour films from the same calendar year in which the awards are announced or presented.
The 72nd edition is specifically connected to films that were certified during the 2024 eligibility period.
The 72nd National Film Awards Are for the 2024 Film Cycle
One of the biggest reasons for the confusion is the meaning of the award edition. The 72nd National Film Awards are not an award for movies released in 2026.
Instead, the edition covers films that received certification from the Central Board of Film Certification during the relevant 2024 period. This means that a film could release in 2024, go through the selection process later and eventually receive its National Award in 2026.
The awards therefore follow an eligibility and evaluation cycle rather than simply matching the year printed on the award ceremony.
Why Is There a Two-Year Gap?
The delay is largely connected to disruptions in the National Film Awards process during the COVID-19 pandemic.
The pandemic affected the functioning of several institutions, including film-related selection and award processes. As a result, the National Film Awards schedule moved away from its earlier timeline.
The delay continued even after regular activities resumed, creating a gap between the year in which films were eligible and the year in which their awards were announced or presented.
This is why audiences are now seeing 2024 films being celebrated at a ceremony taking place in 2026.
What Does “72nd” Mean?
Another source of confusion is the number attached to the awards.
The term “72nd National Film Awards” refers to the edition of the awards and not to films from the year 2026. In other words, the number does not indicate the year in which the winning films were released.
This distinction is important because the awards process is based on a defined eligibility period. Once the eligible films are identified, they are evaluated by the appointed jury before the winners are announced.
Therefore, seeing a 2024 film receive an award in 2026 does not mean the film has suddenly become eligible two years after its release. It means that the film belongs to the eligibility cycle being honoured by that particular edition.
Which 2024 Films Have Received Major Honours?
Several prominent 2024 films have featured among the winners of the 72nd National Film Awards.
Article 370 emerged as one of the major winners, receiving the Best Feature Film honour, while Yami Gautam was recognised for her performance. Kartik Aaryan and Mammootty also received Best Actor honours for Chandu Champion and Bramayugam, respectively.
Other 2024 films have also received recognition across different categories, demonstrating the wide range of cinema covered by the awards.
The awards therefore represent the work submitted and evaluated from the relevant eligibility period rather than the films that happen to be popular or newly released in 2026.
Who Selects the National Award Winners?
The winners are selected through a jury-based process. For the 72nd edition, juries were appointed to evaluate films and other eligible entries across various categories.
The selection process takes time because numerous films are considered across feature films, regional cinema, non-feature films, writing and technical categories.
After the jury completes its evaluation, the winners are announced and later formally honoured at the National Film Awards ceremony.
Why Does the National Film Awards System Work This Way?
The National Film Awards are designed as a structured recognition system rather than an immediate annual popularity award.
Films need to qualify for a specific eligibility period before being considered. The jury then evaluates the eligible entries before the winners are announced.
Because the awards process has experienced delays in recent years, the ceremony can take place significantly later than the year in which the winning films were released.
For viewers, this can make the timeline confusing, but the release year and award year serve two different purposes.
What This Means for 2025 and 2026 Films
The 2026 ceremony should therefore not be interpreted as the National Film Awards for movies released during 2026.
Films from later eligibility periods will be considered through subsequent editions of the awards. The same system means that a film’s release year, eligibility year, announcement year and ceremony year can sometimes be different.
This explains why audiences are currently seeing 2024 films dominate headlines around the National Film Awards in 2026.
The Simple Explanation
In simple terms, there is no mystery behind 2024 films winning National Awards in 2026. The 72nd National Film Awards are recognising films belonging to the 2024 eligibility cycle, while the awards ceremony is taking place in 2026.
The delay is connected to the disruption and subsequent backlog in the awards timeline, particularly following the COVID-19 pandemic.
So, when a 2024 film wins a National Award in 2026, it does not mean the film was considered late or became eligible unexpectedly. It means the award edition covering that film cycle is being announced and presented later than the film’s release year.
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